American rapper, Actor and producer Questlove is bringing Hip-Hop 50 to the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in a major way. On Sunday, February 5, the six time Grammy-winner and Oscar-winning filmmaker will co-curate the Hip-Hop 50 tribute performance in partnership with media company Mass Appeal.
Acts scheduled to perform during the segment include Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz, and Too $hort.
Questlove will serve as producer and musical director for the set, while music will be provided by The Roots and group frontman Black Thought will narrate. Introducing the segment rap veteran and former Grammy Awards host LL Cool J.
“For five decades, Hip Hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I’m so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the GRAMMY stage. It is just the beginning of our year-long celebration of this essential genre of music.”
Mass Appeal founder, Nas, had his first Grammy performance last year, performing a medley of classics including “Made You Look,” “One Mic,” and “Rare,” backed by a band with Robert Glasper on piano.
Hip-hop’s relationship with the Grammys is fairly recent, as the Recording Academy introduced first hip-hop category Best Rap Performance in 1989. Winning the inaugural award with DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince for “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” The Grammys’ acceptance of hip-hop has evolved, with additional categories Best Rap Album, Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. Nominated this in the rap categories year are artists Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Jack Harlow, Future, Doja Cat, Latto, Gunna, GloRilla and more.
The 2023 Grammys will be broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Sunday, February 5 at 5PM PT/8 PM ET on CBS.
